June 11, 2001 Birding Report

On June 6, Chris Wood spotted a Mississippi Kite over Lake Girard Park in the city of Bloomington in Hennepin County. Paul Egeland saw a White-Eyed Vireo here earlier in the day.

On the 7th, a Whimbrel was on the Park Point ball fields in the city of Duluth in St. Louis County. On the following day, as many as eight Red-Throated Loons were on Lake Superior just off the main beach.

On June 9, three Plegadis Ibis were seen by Betsy Beneke as they flew over I-94 at Mile Marker 76, south of Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County.

On the 9th, Shawn Conrad found a few Yellow Rails in Aitkin County at the McGregor marsh. The birds were calling on the west side of State Highway 65 just over one-tenth of a mile south of State Highway 210.

A Northern Mockingbird was at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Lake County on the 5th. It was seen in a field opposite the visitor center.

Note: My cousin’s husband Lee Reznick, is the manager of that state park, and lives on the property. Stop in, introduce yourself, tell him you heard from me, and tell him what you saw there. I’m trying to get him interested in birds. TR

My friend Linda Whyte posted this on the Minnesota Birding List web page – after we "walked into each other" at the Fens Unit of the MN Valley National Wildlife Preserve off of Cliff Road in Burnsville.

Return of cool weather made the Cliff Fen to Black Dog Trail a good place for exercise. Rob finally got his FOY Sandhill Cranes with a leisurely fly-over by four of them, heading west to east. The expected summer residents were present, but it was especially gratifying to hear and briefly see the returned Bell's Vireos. There were at least 2, possibly 3 of them, not in the prior location by the first power stanchion pair, but further east along the trail, next to the 2nd power stanchion, about where the Chat hung out one summer. (TR Michels, it was good to see you again.) Linda

Good to see you too Linda, we had a great talk about the Whooping Cranes and Research Bears. TR

Note: I’ve heard Sandhill Cranes while I was walking about a mile east on the trail that follows the Minnesota River from the State Park boat landing under the Cedar Avenue Bridge. My wife and I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes and a young one land in the marshes just east of that bridge last year. We were parked along Black Dog Road across from the model boat "boating" pond. I suspect there is a nesting pair in the area. TR

Bobolinks and Dickcissels are being seen on prairies now. Bobolinks seem to prefer mostly grassy areas, while Dickscissels seem to prefer areas with a good amount of tall weeds to "Tee Up" on (sing from).

Remember, take a family member or friend on a nature tour - and enjoy our Great Outdoors.

If you are interested in a local guide for birding, or nature tours, send an e-mail to me at TRMichels@yahoo.com. I’m just looking for excuses to go – and try out my Canon new camera.

May God bless all of you,

T.R.

T.R. Michels is a professional guide who specializes in trophy whitetail, turkey and bear hunts in Minnesota. He has guided in the Rocky Mountains for elk and mule deer, too. He publishes the Trinity Mountain Outdoors website at www.TRMichels.com.